Here's a roundup of the morning's news from The Oregonian's business
desk:

Markets: Stocks were flat in early trading after a surprise dip in unemployment claims and stronger sales reports from retailers.

Energy: The EPA is accusing Portland General Electric of operating its Boardman coal-fired plant without adequate pollution controls since 1998.

Real estate: One of the largest home builders in the country has entered the Portland market with a townhome project in Tigard.

Housing: Rep. Earl Blumenauer D-Ore. joined a host of other state and federal
politicians this week in calling on major lenders to halt foreclosures
in their states. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., asked several federal
agencies to investigate.

Tech: Giftango, a Portland software company that puts gift cards online, says
this morning that it has landed $5 million in new investment.

Timber: Oregon is appealing a court ruling that runoff from logging roads is a form of
pollution that requires a permit under the Clean Water Act.

Shipping: The Army Corps of Engineers has bumped dredging of a potentially hazardous bar in Portland Harbor
to next summer, saying resolving environmental concerns pushed the
project too close to the Oct. 31 deadline for completing in-water work.

Cell phones:
Verizon's 2010 schedule for rolling out its new, high-speed wireless Internet technology includes 38 U.S. cities -- but not Portland.

Digimarc: The Beaverton company licensed nearly all of its patent portfolio for $36 million and a share of future profits.